Amazonia (16 page)

Blake returned her smile.
“Good idea.” When Shale stifled a yawn, Blake put the parchment aside and
took hold of both her hands. “You can’t stay awake forever, Shale. I know
you’re frightened of going to sleep in case you have another nightmare,
but—”

“I’d be a pretty pathetic
warrior if I was afraid of going to sleep.”

“That’s Kale talking, not
you,” Blake said. “And it’s not pathetic to feel, Shale. That’s one of the
main things that I love about you. You’re so much more than just a
warrior. So much more.”

“I shouldn’t be scared. Not
of this.”

“Why not? Because Kale
wouldn’t be?”

Shale tipped her head. “I
should be strong.”

“You are strong. When I think
of what you’ve been through,” Blake paused, her eyes misting. “I’m surprised
you’re doing as well as you are. Your strength amazes me.” She squeezed
the hands in her own. “Please stop comparing yourself to Kale. You’re not
her, and I wouldn’t want you to be.” She hesitated briefly. “You know it
doesn’t bother me whether you lead or not.”

Shale was taken aback. “It
doesn’t?”

“No. Whatever makes you happy
is fine with me.”

“Kale will want to lead
again.”

“That’s Kale. What do you
want?”

“I want you to be proud of
me.”

Blake pressed her lips to
Shale’s, kissing her lovingly. “I couldn’t be prouder.”

Shale blushed, but a
delighted grin etched its way across her face. After a moment, she
sobered. “I’m not sure I want to lead again.”

Blake nodded, then kissed
Shale once more, gently pushing her down onto the bed. She began to stroke
Shale’s hair. When Shale protested, Blake said, “I’ll be right here. If
you do dream, I’ll wake you straight up.”

Shale closed her eyes,
surrendering to Blake. She wound her arms around her. “You’re the best
thing that’s ever happened to me, Blake,” she whispered.

Blake gave her a devoted
look, then snuggled into Shale. “Likewise.”

“IT’S NOT BROKEN,” Appollonia
said. The swelling had now reduced enough for her to examine Shale’s knee
properly.

Shale let out the breath
she’d been holding. “Great,” she responded, relieved. She would have Kale
fetch her a staff. She could use that for support when she walked.

“You still need to rest it,”
Appollonia said, as if reading her mind.

Shale’s brow furrowed
slightly, until she realised that resting it wasn’t the same as keeping
off it. “I’ll rest it.”

“Do you want me to wrap it?”

Shale was about to decline,
thinking the healer was trying to catch her out—why would her leg need a
supportive wrap if she wasn’t going to use it? But Appollonia gave her a
look that said she knew exactly what Shale was up to, and she didn’t seem
annoyed by it, so Shale nodded. “Please.”

Appollonia proceeded to
bandage her knee. “I bet you’re fed up with being stuck inside?”

“Sometimes,” Shale replied.
When Blake’s not here, she added silently. Shale was quite content to stay
inside the cabin when Blake was with her. She held back a grin. More than
content.

“There you go,” Appollonia
said, as she finished.

“Thanks.” Shale was keen to
get some fresh air. “What’s the weather like out there?”

A smile flicked across her
face at Shale’s eagerness. “Warm. Perfect to sit on Blake’s steps and rest
your leg.”

Shale laughed outright. “Is
that a hint?”

Appollonia’s smile widened.
“A mere suggestion. Do you want me to help you?”

Shale had spent plenty of
time with the healer because of her numerous injuries, and was a lot more
comfortable around her. She decided to accept her assistance. “All right.”

Appollonia looked surprised,
but pleased, and helped her to stand. It was a good thing she did, because
Shale couldn’t keep her weight on her leg for very long.

Shale managed to walk
outside, and she followed Appollonia’s suggestion, seating herself on the
cabin steps.

“I have some more people to
treat. Will you be able to get back inside?”

Shale nodded confidently.
“I’ll be fine.”

“Try and stay out of
trouble,” Appollonia teased, as she ambled away. “I’m running out of
medicinal supplies.”

Shale chuckled. “I’ll try my
best,” she called after her. She glanced around the village—nothing had
changed. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes, enjoying the sun as
it bathed her face. Shale didn’t know how long she stayed like that, but
it was quite a while.

She heard footsteps heading
for her, and looked toward the sound. The queen was approaching.

Shale returned the smile,
though hers was slightly anxious.

“My Queen.”

“Shale. I’m glad to see that
you’re up and about.”

“Thank you. I’m afraid
Blake’s not here.”

“I know. It’s not her I came
to see.” Zayla indicated the steps. “May I?”

“Certainly.” Shale shuffled
over slightly to give Zayla more room.

“How are things?”

“Fine, my Queen. Better than
fine actually. Kale and I are finally settling in, we’re finding our place
here.”

“Good.”

“I want to thank you again
for your patience. I know we haven’t been easy at times.”

“Nonsense.” Zayla’s smile
grew. “Well, perhaps at times.”

Shale’s anxiety eased
considerably, and she produced a sheepish grin.

“Blakaea tells me you’ve
moved into her cabin, excuse me, it’s your cabin now, too. I’ve never seen
her this happy, so I owe you my thanks as well.”

“I assure you it works both
ways. I’ve never been this happy either,” Shale said. “I love Blake very
much.”

Zayla patted her shoulder in
a maternal gesture. “And I know she loves you. I’m very pleased for you
both.”

They spotted Blake making her
way across the village.

“I wondered why my ears were
burning,” she said goodnaturedly, as she neared.

Zayla didn’t deny it. “The
gods blessed me with a beautiful daughter, Blakaea. Is it so wrong of me
to want to share that gift?”

An amused expression crossed
Blake’s face. “That’s the nicest possible way of admitting you were
gossiping.”

“We were doing no such
thing,” Zayla said. “A discussion is hardly gossip.”

“Mm-hmm.” Blake didn’t sound
convinced. “Shale?”

“It’s true,” Shale said,
growing somewhat flustered. She didn’t want Blake to think she was talking
about her behind her back. She had been, but it certainly wasn’t in the
negative sense. She decided to tell Blake what was said. “I was just
telling your moth...the queen, that I’ve never been as happy as I am with
you, and that I love you deeply.”

Blake’s eyes shone with
affection. “I love you, too. Though that’s not what I was going to say. I
was going to ask how you managed to get outside.”

“Oh.” Shale blushed in
embarrassment, even more so when she noticed Zayla’s hazel eyes twinkling
at her. “Appollonia came by. She helped me.”

“Was she able to tell if your
knee is broken?”

“It’s not broken. I just need
to rest it.”

“That is good news,” Zayla
said.

Shale nodded, smiling when
Blake winked at her. “I think Appollonia will refuse to treat me soon,”
she joked.

Mother and daughter laughed,
and Shale soon joined in.

WHEN SHALE AWOKE, she found
herself under close scrutiny. Blake was watching her avidly, a soft smile
playing on her features.

“Good morning.”

“How long have you been up?”
Shale asked, giving Blake’s naked body a squeeze. She always woke with her
arms around Blake, no matter what position they slept in.

“A little while. You slept
through again,” Blake noted in a pleased tone.

“Mm. Let’s hope that dream
was a one off.”

“Let’s hope,” Blake said.
“Have you got any thoughts about what you want to do today?”

“A couple.” Shale smirked.
“Though since I can’t go very far, my ideas are revolving around you and
our cabin.”

“Oh really?” Blake sounded
intrigued. “And what do these ideas entail?”

Shale kissed her leisurely,
only parting when they had to break away for air.

“I’m sure...” Blake had to
catch her breath. “I’m sure you could convince me.”

Shale chuckled. “Actually,
there is something I’d like to do when my knee is better.”

“What’s that?”

“I’d like to take you to my
old village, or where it used to be. It really is beautiful around there.”

Blake lightly rubbed Shale’s
stomach. “I’d like that, too.”

“Of course it would be a lot
easier if we had a horse, it’s a Hades of a trek on foot. Why don’t you
keep any here?”

“There’s nowhere for them to
graze,” Blake said. “The nearest meadow’s a good distance away.” She
paused briefly. “I’d rather walk anyway.” At Shale’s questioning look,
Blake said, “Horses scare me, they’re too big.”

Shale couldn’t hold back her
smile, and Blake slapped her midriff.

“Don’t laugh. I’m being
serious.”

“Does that mean you can ride
but don’t like to?” Shale asked. “Or that you’ve never ridden?”

“I’ve never ridden. You won’t
get me near one of those things.”

“You should really know how,
though. You never know when you might need to.” She sat up, flashing Blake
a mischievous grin. “Come on, I’ll give you a lesson.”

Blake looked at her as though
she’d lost her mind. “Shale, you’re not leaving this bed, you need to rest
that leg.”

“Who said anything about leaving
the bed?” Shale’s grin became seductive. “Come here.” She waited until
Blake sat alongside her before giving her next instructions. “Put one leg
over, straddle me.” As Blake did so, she said, “Stay on your knees.” Blake
was now positioned over Shale’s lap, legs apart. “Now, there are only two
motions you make on a horse, up...” Shale pushed her upward. “And down.”
She pulled Blake down. “Very good. Just repeat that a few times, I want to
make sure you’ve got it.” Her eyes sparkled in merriment.

“Mm-hmm.” Blake’s amusement
was clear, but she moved up and down, gripping Shale’s shoulders to keep
herself steady.

“Faster,” Shale said,
enjoying herself immensely.

“I think I’ve got it,” Blake
said wryly, though she did increase her speed.

“You need practice. I don’t
want you to fall off,” Shale teased, greedily watching the bobbing of
Blake’s breasts.

“We wouldn’t want that now,
would we?” Blake deadpanned. Her breathing quickened, the motion clearly
stimulating her. The heady scent of arousal was apparent in the air, and
Blake kissed her thoroughly.

Shale’s tongue duelled with
Blake’s for several long moments before Shale pulled back. “Don’t distract
your teacher.” She held Blake still. “There are four different speeds a
horse can go, but we’ll start with walk, nice and slow.” Shale pushed a
finger inside Blake, then another, taking her time deliberately, not
wanting to rush.

Blake cried out in surprise,
and began to gyrate against Shale’s hand.

“No,” Shale said firmly,
stopping Blake’s movements. “You’re riding, you can’t make that motion.”
Blake immediately rose up, but Shale withdrew. “No,” she repeated. “Just
sit in the saddle. I’ll tell you when you can go.”

Blake nodded and lowered
herself. Shale re-entered her, watching as Blake struggled to hold still
as Shale’s fingers slid in and out of her with long, slow strokes.

“Then there’s trot,” Shale
said, picking up her pace, moving within Blake eagerly.

“Shale,” Blake pleaded,
begging to be released.

“Easy, Blake. Not yet.” Shale
squirmed a little. Only Blake had ever made her this aroused. She couldn’t
get enough of her.

Blake was panting now, and
Shale reacted strongly to it, fighting to keep herself under control.

“Canter,” she said huskily,
thrusting harder into Blake, deeper. Shale couldn’t wait any longer.
“Ride, Blake,” she urged.

Blake, now free, surged
upward, then sank onto Shale’s hand, driving her in to the hilt. She rode
hard, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Every time Blake was impaled,
she let out the most erotic sound Shale had ever heard. It was a cross
between a groan, a whimper, and a grunt, and it grew progressively louder
on each descent.

“And gallop,” Shale finished.
Blake was driving her crazy.

To Blake’s obvious delight,
Shale went even faster, pumping into her with firm, sharp thrusts. Blake
moaned, her grip tightening on Shale’s shoulders as she rammed herself
down, frantically bouncing onto Shale’s hand.

Shale tensed in anticipation,
the stimulation too much for her. “Blake!”

Shale’s face transformed in
pleasure, then when she started to tremble, Blake plunged her tongue into
Shale’s mouth, kissing her through her orgasm. Her lips caught Shale’s
full-throated groan, and she reflexively clenched around Shale’s fingers.

Blake let out a needy whimper
when Shale flexed and wriggled inside her, then gasped as Shale’s thumb
rubbed hard against her clitoris.

Blake bucked wildly. “Shale,
oh!” she cried. “Oh, Shale!” Her climax was that intense, her entire body
convulsed powerfully. Shale stroked her down, and Blake sagged limply
against her, trusting Shale to catch her.

Shale held her close, gently
cradling Blake’s head on her shoulder.

“Shale,” Blake whispered,
saying her name in such a way that it sounded like a prayer.

“I’m here, Blake.” Shale
affectionately tucked several strands of hair behind Blake’s ear. “I’m
right here.”

Blake’s breathing began to
level as she gradually calmed down. She let out a blissful sigh, wrapping
her arms around Shale in a warm embrace. “If riding a horse was like that,
I wouldn’t have a problem.”

Shale chuckled. “It might be,
can’t say I’ve ever tried it myself.”

“Ew! Shale, I didn’t mean it
like that!” Blake paused, as if thinking over what she’d said. “It was
badly phrased.”